Air bag apparatus

Abstract

An air bag apparatus is formed of a retainer having an upper opening; an air bag accommodated in the retainer and having a gas inlet, a portion of the air bag around the gas inlet being connected to the retainer; a lid covering the upper opening of the retainer; and a support plate extending from the lid and connected to the retainer. The support plate is deformable in vertical, longitudinal and lateral directions thereby allowing the lid to move relatively in the vertical, longitudinal and lateral directions. The air bag apparatus is light, and the position of the air bag apparatus relative to an instrument panel and the lid can be adjusted easily.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An air bag apparatus comprising: 
       a retainer including an upper part having an upper opening and a lower portion, and a lower part with an upper portion, said lower portion and said upper portion being overlapped and connected together;  
       an air bag accommodated in the retainer and having a gas inlet, and an edge portion around the gas inlet connected to the retainer;  
       a lid covering the upper opening of the retainer;  
       a wall extending from the lid to surround the retainer; and  
       a support plate extending from the wall and located under the lower portion of the retainer, said support plate being connected to the retainer at the lower portion and being deformable in vertical, longitudinal and lateral directions thereby allowing the lid to move relatively in the vertical, longitudinal and lateral directions.  
     
     
       2. An air bag apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said lid and said support plate are formed integrally from an elastomer. 
     
     
       3. An air bag apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said upper part includes a surrounding wall and a bottom with an opening, and the lower part includes a flange overlapping the bottom, said bottom of the upper part, the flange of the lower part and the support plate being overlapped and connected together. 
     
     
       4. An air bag apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising a contact plate, said edge portion around the gas inlet of the air bag being disposed on the bottom of the upper part around the opening, and said contact plate and the flange sandwiching therebetween the bottom, the edge portion of the air bag around the gas inlet and the support plate. 
     
     
       5. An air bag apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein said upper part includes a projection projecting downwardly from an edge of the opening of the bottom, said projection engaging the upper portion of the lower part. 
     
     
       6. An air bag apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said upper part is made of a synthetic resin, and the lower part is made of metal. 
     
     
       7. An air bag apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said lid includes engaging pieces provided on a rear side of a peripheral portion thereof to engage a portion of an instrument panel around an air bag installation opening. 
     
     
       8. An air bag apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said lid is formed integrally with an instrument panel. 
     
     
       9. An air bag apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said lid includes a main body for covering the upper opening of the retainer, said wall projecting from the main body to surround the upper part of the retainer. 
     
     
       10. An air bag apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein said support plate has a thickness less than that of the wall. 
     
     
       11. An air bag apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said support plate includes a plurality of support plate portions laterally spaced apart from each other and extending from the wall. 
     
     
       12. An air bag apparatus comprising: 
       a retainer including an upper part having an upper opening, a surrounding wall around the upper opening, and a lower portion with a bottom with an opening; and a lower part having an upper portion with a flange overlapping the bottom, said lower portion and said upper portion being overlapped and connected together;  
       an air bag accommodated in the retainer and having a gas inlet and an edge portion around the gas inlet connected to the retainer, said edge portion of the air bag being disposed on the bottom of the upper part around the opening;  
       a lid covering the upper opening of the retainer;  
       a support plate extending from the lid, said support plate, bottom of the upper part and flange of the lower part being overlapped and connected together, said support plate being deformable in vertical, longitudinal and lateral directions thereby allowing the lid to move relatively in the vertical, longitudinal and lateral directions; and  
       a contact plate disposed in the retainer, said contact plate and the flange sandwiching therebetween the bottom, the edge portion of the air bag and the support plate.  
     
     
       13. An air bag apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein said contact plate is a frame surrounding the opening of the bottom of the upper part, and includes bolts fixed thereto, said bolts being inserted through the air bag, the bottom of the upper part, the support plate, and the flange and fastened by nuts. 
     
     
       14. An air bag apparatus comprising: 
       a retainer having an upper opening;  
       an air bag accommodated in the retainer and having a gas inlet and an edge portion around the gas inlet connected to the retainer;  
       a lid covering the upper opening of the retainer; and  
       a support plate extending from the lid and connected to the retainer, said support plate having a plurality of elongated through holes extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the lid without engaging other members, said elongated through holes providing flexibility and allowing the support plate to be deformable in vertical, longitudinal and lateral directions thereby allowing the lid to move relatively in the vertical, longitudinal and lateral directions.  
     
     
       15. An air bag apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein said support plate includes a lower portion located below the elongated through holes, said lower portion being connected to the retainer together with the air bag.